COURT: LEGISLATORS VIOLATED LAW

Sacramento 
California lawmakers violated the state constitution when they passed a bill that gave Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative top billing on the November ballot, a state appeals court has ruled.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento said on Friday that lawmakers were wrong to sidestep a two-thirds vote requirement to immediately enact AB 1499 last year. The bill was passed on a majority vote by Democrats last June and moved the governor’s measure ahead of other initiatives on the November ballot because it involved a constitutional amendment.

Democrats appropriated $1,000 to the secretary of state for expenses. They said because the so-called spot bill was related to the budget, it could be passed on a simple majority vote and enacted ahead of the election.

Had it not been enacted as urgency legislation, the law would not have taken effect until the new year — after the election.

Republicans were unsuccessful in trying to stop the bill from taking effect before voters approved Proposition 30. The appeals court said while the lawsuit is moot, lawmakers can’t make similar maneuvers in the future.

The ruling could have implications for lawmakers in the future because spot bills are commonly used in the budget process.